Penn Latin & Ballroom

Team Lessons

Throughout the school year, PLBD offers weekly lessons in Smooth, Standard, Rhythm, and Latin styles of ballroom dance. Lessons are taught by professional coaches or very high-level dancers. Members of our team are welcome to take any lessons we offer. We don't hold any auditions and no experience or partners are required!

 

Class Times

Mondays

• 9:00 - 9:45 PM — Advanced Standard with Brona

• 9:45 - 10:30 PM — Advanced Latin with Brona

• 10:30 - 11:00 PM — Practice space

Thursdays

• 9:00 - 10:00 PM — Newcomer Standard with Spencer

• 10:00 - 10:45 PM — Bronze Standard with Spencer

Saturdays

• 4:00 - 5:00 PM — Newcomer Latin with Vichet

• 5:00 - 5:45 PM — Bronze Latin with Vichet

• 5:45 - 7:00 PM — Practice space

 

Team Dues

Returning Students: $65 / semester
Returning Non-students: $110 / semester
Newcomer Students: $45 / semester
Newcomer Non-students: $90 / semester

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Coaches

Brona Vrtalova
An award-winning dancer and instructor, wry and energetic, Bronislava began her career in the Czech Republic, where she was the Professional Czech National Champion for seven years, as well as Czech representative to the World and European Championships. While in the Czech Republic she became accredited both as a First Class Coach and as an International Adjudicator due to her extensive coaching and judging experience. Brona immigrated to the US in 2002 with her partner Rene Ostarek. Ever since, Brona has been teaching in the Philadelphia and Delaware area, as well as competing in professional competitions in the US and throughout the world.

Vichet Ou
Vichet Ou started his career in dancesport when he arrived at Cornell in August 2003, and hasn't stopped since. He began teaching his junior teammates at Cornell around 2005, and since graduating has been training exclusively in the Latin style for the championship level. He has also recently discovered ballet and modern, both of which have helped with his training immensely.

Spencer Caplan
Spencer Caplan started Ballroom dancing as an undergraduate at Brown University in 2012. Specializing in International Standard, he has ranked in the top 45 amateur dancers in the country and placed regularly as a Pre-Championship finalist in competition. Now a PhD candidate at Penn, Spencer continues to study Ballroom under many of the top coaches in the US as well as internationally. Outside of competing, Spencer enjoys teaching Ballroom -- particularly emphasizing the application of core principles of Ballroom technique to create dynamic movement and aesthetics.

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